MOSCOW (MRC)--Production of high density polyethylene (HDPE) in Russia increased by 7% in 2018 year on year and reaching about 960,800 tonnes, with only two producers from four ones increased their output, according to MRC’s ScanPlast report.
December HDPE production in Russia grew to 83,2 00 tonnes, whereas this figure was about 81,700 tonnes a month earlier. All producers increased PE production. Russia’s overall HDPE production reached 960,8 tonnes in January-December 2018, compared to 898,000 tonnes a year earlier. Stavrolen and Gazprom neftekhim Salavat raised their capacity utilisation significantly, whereas Nizhnekamskneftekhim, which for several years has been systematically reducing the production of HDPE in favor of linear polyethylene (LDLP).
Structure of PE production over the reported period looked as follows.
Kazanorgsintez increased HDPE production in December to 47,000 tonnes compared with 45,800 tonnes in November. Overall, the Kazan manufacturer produced 505,100 tonnes of HDPE in 2018, down 0.5%year on year.
Stavrolen’s December HDPE production decreased to 26,900 tonnes from 25,600 tonnes a month earlier. Stavrolen produced 293,600 tonnes of HDPE in January-December 2018, up 26% year on year. Such a high level of output was a result of a lack of prolonged preventive maintenances in 2018.
Gazprom neftekhim Salavat (Gazprom) increased capacity utilization in December, producing about 9,200 tonnes of HDPE in December, compared with 8,200 tonnes in November. The Salavat manufacturer produced over 118,200 tonnes in 2018, up 28% year on year. The high 2018 output was caused as in the case of Stavrolen, by the absence of prolonged preventive maintenances this year.
During the period under review, Nizhnekamskneftekhim only in April-May and the end of September-November produced HDPE. Thus, in less than five months of operation, the Nizhnekamsk manufacturer has produced only 43,900 tonnes of HDPE against 65,600 tonnes a year earlier.
MRC